Honorbound 13

                                    

                                          
Tessia looked at Arthur with deep concern as he leaned heavily against her, "We need to stop and rest." 
"No," Arthur breathed out in a tight gasp. He clenched his jaw at the pain throbbing in his shoulder. "We need to get back to Zestier." 
Tessia eyed Arthur, seeing how he leaned against her. His eyes were closed as he breathed heavily; he looked pale and was sweating profusely. "You don't look like you'll make it back to Zestier." 
Looking serious, Arthur's gaze snapped to her, "My well-being doesn't matter. What matters is getting you to safety." 
Tessia's eyes narrowed, "Don't think like that. Don't be an idiot and be so willing to sacrifice yourself." 
Arthur gave a raspy chuckle, "It comes with the job, Princess." Arthur groaned as he grabbed his shoulder, feeling his injury ache. 
"Arthur?!" Tessia said with deep concern in her tone. 
"Don't worry," Arthur said, his voice strained. He lifted his hand, seeing it coated in blood, "I'm fi-" Arthur stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing on the purple coloration mixed in with his blood. Arthur cursed, "I should've known." 
Tessia looked confused, "Known what?" Her eyes widened in shock and horror as she watched Arthur grab the arrow and yank it out of his shoulder with a yelp. "Arthur!" Tessia screeched. "Are you insane?!" 
"It needed to be done," Arthur groaned out behind clenched teeth. His injury ached more than before, and he was beginning to feel dizzy. He stored the arrow into his dimensional ring. 
Tessia looked at Arthur's shoulder, seeing blood seeping out, and her concern grew. "You're going to bleed out." 
Arthur shook his head, "I can manage. Don't worry." 
"Stop saying that," Tessia snapped, glaring at Arthur. "Of course I'm going to worry." 
Arthur looked at Tessia and gave her a weak grin, "What's wrong? Am I growing on you?" 
Tessia rolled her eyes, "I just don't want to go through the trouble of finding another guard." 
Arthur let out a chuckle before he coughed, "Damn it." 
Tessia's eyes softened as she looked at Arthur, "You need to rest." 
"No time," Arthur said and looked over his shoulder. "They'll find us if we don't hurry." 
Tessia's brows furrowed before they raised in realization, "They're awake?" 
"And moving," Arthur confirmed with a nod. "I sensed them not long ago. I'm currently hiding our presence. But," Arthur's eyes fell, "I don't know how much longer I can keep that up." 
Tessia eyed Arthur, feeling deeply worried, "Maybe I can go slow them down or something?" 
Arthur shook his head, "No. We just need to keep go-" Arthur stopped as a few raindrops hit the top of his head. He and Tessia looked up, and a moment later, it began to rain heavily on them. Arthur let out a sigh, "Of course. At least that'll hide any blood trail." 
Tessia shivered at the cold rain, beginning to become soaked. She looked at Arthur sternly, "Listen. We need to find shelter for the night." 
Arthur shook his head, "No. We need to-" 
"No arguing," Tessia snapped, and Arthur's brows raised in surprise. "If we keep going like this, you'll bleed out, and I'll die from hyperthermia. We need shelter. No, it's, and's, or but's." 
Arthur looked at Tessia for a moment, feeling impressed by her commanding tone. He weakly chuckled, "Very well." He jerked his chin, "I saw a cave not far from here when I came looking for you. We can stay there."